New 5G technology is rolling out in some Canadian communities, promising improvements to life-saving technologies as much as to your fun weekend activities. At the same time, there's a huge digital divide between city folk and rural & Northern communities, leaving roughly 15 percent of Canadians with poor Internet or no Internet. Joe Natale, CEO at Rogers Communications, joins Policy Speaking to share his vision for the future of mobile tech, bridging the digital divide, and how industry can partner with government to bring Canada together as a nation.

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Music: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen under a creative commons license

Hydrogen promises a green bearing to Canada's energy economy, yet consumer applications are still out of reach. Grant Strem, CEO of hydrogen-tech company Proton Technologies, and Marty Reed, Vancouver venture capital investor, join Policy Speaking for a conversation about hydrogen energy in Canada and its potential as a catalyst for innovation - to give Canada a strategic competitive edge in the global, fast-growing technology economy.

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Music: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen under a creative commons license

New digital frontiers have renewed old problems: conspiracy theories, hate speech and disinformation. This conversation with Peter MacLeod, founder of public engagement firm MASS LBP, and Amira Elghawaby, journalist and human rights advocate, gives us insights on the health of our democracy and explores innovative approaches to civil dialogue in a social media age – including a Citizens' Assembly of 42 Canadians that's currently underway and the PPF-organized Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression.

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Music: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen under a creative commons license

In the first 10 days after the pandemic struck, Canadian colleges and universities moved over 2.2 million learners online. Now students are going back to school – but not like before. Edward Greenspon speaks with Denise Amyot, CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, and Paul Davidson, President of Universities Canada, about lifelong learning in this pandemic and beyond, equitable access to education, and the broadband Internet challenges that could make-or-break these new ways of lifelong learning.

Plus what's happening to Canada's international students in the COVID-19 pandemic?

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Music: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen under a creative commons license

Listen to this episode to learn the latest developments on the vaccine front. What does the recent manufacturing agreement mean for Canada and what's ahead for delivering a safe vaccine to Canadians after clinical trials? Progress on vaccines has been the result of unprecedented collaboration between scientists, industry and regulators, but how will politics play a role in the successful distribution? Will Canadians trust in the science? And how will inequalities play into distribution, particularly in light of developing international tensions over vaccine development. Join this conversation with Dr. Alan Bernstein, the Hon. Anne McLellan and host Edward Greenspon to learn all the details.

Dr. Alan Bernstein is a member of Canada's COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force and the president of CIFAR (the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research). He's a one time medical researcher and former head of CIHR (Canadian Institute of Health Research) and also served as executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise in New York, an international alliance charged with accelerating the search for an HIV vaccine. He recently published an article in The Atlantic titled I’m Optimistic That We Will Have a COVID-19 Vaccine Soon.

The Hon. Anne McLellan is making her second appearance on Policy Speaking. As former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, among her many responsibilities in government, she also served as federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and as Minister of Health.

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Music: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen under a creative commons license

Episode 20 I A series of three major concurrent and overlapping crises, one about health, about the economy and about race, diversity and inclusion has brought our society to a troubled place in time. Many of us have been forced to challenge our own roles. Edward Greenspon is joined by The Honourable Ahmed Hussen to examine the fight against anti-black racism in all its forms, to ensure a future of justice and equality.

Three months into a pandemic and the Canadian economy finds itself in an induced coma with a long journey ahead to recovery. The Bank of Canada contests that we have a bumpy road to recuperation but few have been hit as hard as the Canadian energy sector. The Public Policy Forum has been working with stakeholders in the Canadian energy sector to find ways to achieve our climate targets. The Energy Future Forum's mission is to develop practical measures that will help Canada meet or exceed our 2030 emissions targets on the way to a NetZero future and strengthen an innovative economy, deepen shared prosperity and enhance national unity. In this episode, Edward Greenspon is joined by Mark Little, President and CEO of Suncor energy to discuss energy and climate in the time of a pandemic.

Ep. 18 I Unprecedented times have called for the future of work to become the present. The rapid acceleration of automation and technology integration into the workplace is thought to either cause displacement or upgrades. Bridging the skills gap and upskilling employees and businesses will become imperative in not leaving anyone behind. We know that diversity and inclusion can provide access to well-qualified talent and can help meet the changing needs of the global environment, starting at the post-secondary level. Host Edward Greenspon is joined by Dr. Wendy Cukier, Founder and Academic Director of Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, and Pedro Barata, Executive Director of the Future Skills Center for Part 2 of this Policy Speaking segment to examine workplace diversity and preparing Canadians with the skills they need to succeed in the present and the future of work.

Episode 17 I The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly accelerated the future of work, the issue of lack of diversity and a skills gap in the workplace. We know that diversity and inclusion can improve organizational performance, can provide access to well-qualified talent and can help meet the changing needs of the global environment. But there's still room to understand how we can harness innovation, new approaches, and technologies to bridge the skills gap. A new urgency to adapt to the future of work, and do it right is imperative.

Host Edward Greenspon is joined by Dr. Wendy Cukier, Founder and Academic Director of Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, and Pedro Barata, Executive Director of the Future Skills Center to examine workplace diversity and preparing Canadians with the skills they need to succeed in the present and the future of work.

Episode 16 I The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated change in the way Canadians work and has initiated remarkable adaptability in the workplace. Future-of -work strategist, Heather McGowan has referred to the pandemic as a great social experiment, with online education and remote work understanding how much comprehension and work is best achieved together versus remotely. This is where policy and organizational change come in. How do we adapt ourselves and our institutions and how do we shape the future we want?